date

1821 April Rid Yourselves
1821 April

Rid Yourselves

'.11 Ultramarian deputat n none.

1. In the first place then, according to all appearances, according to /under/ the Code, no assemblage of Deputations - no system of national representatives can they have in Ultramaria can they have from Ultramarians.

To some /many/ of you at least this position may appear somewhat supprizing /be matter of surprize/. It is deduced from Articles \ZS\ are those from which it is deduced.

1. In the first place, look at Article 28. By it, "The basis of the national representation is the same in both hemispheres", viz. Spanish and Spanish Ultramarians.

Look at Article 31. By it, "For every 70,000 souls, of the population, composed as stated in Article 29 there shall be one deputy to the Cortes.  Note here the implied /[...?]/ disqualifications included for which refer to '.\ZS\

and the grounds of Appeal in Election causes, for which see '.4 Appeals.

Look then at Article 29. By it "The basis" (the basis spoken of, as above in the last preceding Article Art. 28) is the population composed of those natives (naturales) who by both laws are indigenous (originarios) of the Spanish dominions, and of those who have obtained of the Cortes an instrument conferring /Letters of/ Citizenship (Cartas de cuidan) as those also comprized in Article 21.

Look now at /then at this 21 st/ Article 21. By it, "In like manner are Citizens the legitimate sons of those foreigners domiciliated en las Españas in the Spains meaning it is supposed the two Spains Peninsula and Ultramarian, who having been born in the Spanish Dominions, have at no time departed thence without licence from the Government ( del Gobierno) and being of the compleat age of twenty one years, have been settled in a district (Pueblo) of those same dominions, exercising /carrying/ on therein some profession, office, or branch of useful industry.
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  • Title: [[clxvii. 68] 1821 March 25]
    Description: [clxvii. 68]

    1821 March 25

    Rid Yourselves

    1. Foreigners in Cortes.

    Look to ends! Look to consequences! Oh no that they will not: custom is what it has been customary for them to look to: and so they will continue to do. To look to consequences /ends/ requires discernment /eyes/: to look to /follow/ custom none: to look to ends and consequences requires labour: to follow custom none. Custom has been the offspring and servant of sinister interest and it is by sinister interest that every where but in the Anglo American United States government has been created and conducted /led/.

    Number of Members of Cortes in the Cortes of 1812, by numeration 181, such at any rate the number mentioned in the Code as having signed. Out of those 181 number of those stated as Deputies from this or that Ultramarian Province by conjecturre about 58. +

    Now suppose these 58 Members elected every one of them by foreigners i.e. by the predominance of a foreign population in so many of the primary Elective Assemblies, and so on. What mischief could they have done, against the will of the 123 others. None: unless by addition made to the number of those in whose instance corrupt obsequiousness has been the offspring of corruptive influence: and upon natives it is quite as easy for corruptive influence to operate as upon foreigners.

    But so far from the 58, in no state of things there ever was exemplified or in any the slightest degree probable in any one of the Elective Districts population of each District per Article \ZS\ 70,000 or thereabouts that a Deputy should ever be returned /elected/ by foreign influence.

    Suppose even the majority of the Cortes composed of foreigners sent into the Cortes /that sovereign Assembly/ by so many majorities composed of foreigners in the several Electoral Districts: or to cut the matter short - suppose the population of Spain composed not of Spaniards but of foreigners: ascribe for suppositions' sake ascribe truth to this self-contradictory proposition let truth be ascribed. On the question whether the claim of Spanish rulers to govern their Ultramarian kinsmen shall be sustained, by what foreigners can any interest be possessed more decidedly or intensely advese to that claim than is the interest of the Ultramarians.

    + To J.B. Pray correct this number?
  • Title: [1821 April 1 Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1821 April 1

    Rid Yourselves

    Ultramarian deputat n none

    The description of an Elector of the lowest rank is not yet compleated. In Article mention is made of one mode of becoming an Elector namely the having obtained from the Cortes letters of Citizenship. But the Cortes have they the power of conferring this right on who they please? Not they indeed. Certain qualifications must he /a foreigner/ have to enable him to acquire even at the hands of the sovereign body of the State this honourable right. By Article 20 one or other it is necesary he should be in possession of /possess/ the following qualifications.

    1. The having carried on or established in one or other of the Spains some invention or valuable branch of industry.

    2. The having acquired landed property (bienes raices) of the sort of those which pay a direct contribution

    3. The having established himself a trade with a /one/ capital of his own such as in the judgment of the Cortes shall at the time have been a considerable one.

    4. The having rendered signal services for the good and in the defence of the nation.

    Not that to any one /man/ who was in possession of any one, or any greater number of all these qualifications would I ensure the great possession of this honourable right, unless he had added to it that of being married or at any rate having been married to a Spanish female. To the first of them this supplemental one must unquestionably have been added: whether to the others respectively let an answer be given by any one who in his own opinion is warranted in giving it /one/.
  • Title: [[clxvii. 113] 1821 March 30]
    Description: [clxvii. 113]

    1821 March 30

    Rid Yourselves

    11. Anticonstitutional Evils

    4. Consumption of Cortes time

    In any such /the case/ /instance/ District Pueblo suppose a deficiency in the funds which it has at its disposal, in such sort that in the judgement of the Ayuntamiento it should be necessary to impose certain sorts of taxes called arbitrios (taxes on eatables and drinkables exposed to sale) not a maravedi says Article 322 is to be laid on "without the approbation of the Cortes obtained through the intervention of the Provincial Deputation". Provided however that if the case be urgent the tax may, with the approbation of the Provincial Deputation, be imposed, in the mean time and until the pleasure /a determination/ of the Cortes to the contrary has been made known mientras nean la resolucion de las Corts.

    Thus not a fresh maravedi can for any fresh purpose be wanted in any part /any where/ in Spanish Ultramaria, but a fresh demand must be made upon the Cortes for its time.